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Last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2017
(LOUISVILLE) - Steve Bortstein, host of “The Fast Track”, on IHeartRadio out of New Mexico’s FOX Sports Radio studios, is keeping his eye on three horses in the upcoming 143rd Kentucky Derby: Classic Empire, Always dreaming and Irish War Cry.
Bortstein has been immersed in horse racing since he was seven when his father was the public relations director at a race track.
He now has been covering the sport on radio, online and in newspapers for more than a quarter-century and is a voting member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
He has been to more than 30 race tracks in the United States.
According to Bortstein, these three horses have done well in their prep races and have caught his interest in the days leading up to the Run for the Roses.
Classic Empire and Always Dreaming have been deemed early betting favorites by many horse racing fans.
However, many experts have picked McCraken as their number one favorite.
Bortstein said, "McCraken is an interesting one. McCraken is a horse that I was kind of into a little ago. His last race I just didn't care for that much. He ran third in the Blue Grass Stakes. He was very impressive when he won the Sam F. Davis Stakes back in February."
Compared to Classic Empire and Always Dreaming, McCraken has about 100 less prep race points.
"...that last race left little to be desired, but he's certainly one who could turn it around, he is certainly one who can rebound off that race. He loves Churchill Downs. He's three for three at Churchill Downs."
McCraken has a leg up on many of the other horses due to his familiarity with the famous track.
Bortstein said these horses have to adapt to the huge change of atmosphere at Churchill Downs, "The biggest crowd they've ever run in front of is probably ten or fifteen thousand people. They've never run in front of 150 thousand. And that's what they're going to fun in front of at the Derby."
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